Get mosquitoes under control
Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs. The best way to control them is to eliminate sources of standing water, including:

• Pet water dishes and birdbaths in which the water isn't replaced at least twice a week.
• Plastic containers under potted plants and flowers.
• Children's toys and plastic wading pools.
• Old tires.
• Wheelbarrows and empty garbage cans.
• Stagnant, poorly maintained swimming pools.
• Ponds in which the water is not circulated or changed at least twice a week.
• Leaky faucets in which water accumulates on the ground.
• Gutters and storm drains in which water collects and stands for several days.
• Toilets that are not frequently flushed.

In Arizona, county health departments treat standing water with larvicide. Unlike pesticides and repellents, larvicide is made of bacteria that feed on mosquito larvae. Counties also use mosquito-larvae-eating fish and carbon dioxide traps. As a last line of defense, counties fog with pesticides to control the number of adult mosquitoes in an area.

To report mosquito problems in Maricopa County, call (602) 506-6616. Information also is available from the Arizona Department of Health Services at www.hs.state.az.us/phs/oids/westnile/ or by calling (602) 364-4562. The department also has established two hotlines: 1-800-314-9243 and (602) 364-4500.